Adjustable track-gage.



E. B. SCHNEIDER 6; F. HERRIGK. ADJUSTABLE TRACK GAGE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1910.

1,032,509.- Patented July 16, 191 2.

'IIIIIIW W/ r/v-s as" 4 c EDWARD B. SCHNEIDER AND FRANK I-IERRICK, OF MOUNTAIN, WISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE TRACK-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912..

Application filed November 19, 1910. Serial No. 593,195.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD B. SCHNEIDER and FRANK Hermon, citizens of the United States, residents of Mountain, in

the county of Oconto and State of Viscouin spacing railway rails a predetermined distance apart and also to properly level each rail with relation to its companion rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined track gage and level which is adapted to be used in spacing curved rails a proper distance apart with relation to the straight rails and to elevate the curved rail of the outer portion of the curve a certain distance above the height of the rail of the inner portion of the curve.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a gage which is adapted to be easily adjusted to properly space apart rails of various curvature and to indicate the height of the outer curved rail above the curved rail of the inner portion of the track with relation to the radius of the curve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage with adjustable means which is also adapted to space guard rails from the main rails.

With the above, and other obj ects in view, the invention consists of the adjustable gage and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: Figure 1 is a side view of the adjustable gage resting on top of two rails and engaging a guard rail,

the rails being shown in cross section; Fig. 2 is atop view of the gage, the handle portion being partly removed to show parts below; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4- is a transverse sectional view taken on line 474 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing the numerals 8 and 9 indicate the rails of a track, 10 a guard rail and 11 the adjustable gage with which the rails and the guard rail are spaced apart and leveled with relation to each other. The gage consists of the spacing beam 12 preferably constructed tubular in form, and provided at one end with a fork 13 rigidly connected thereto. The prongs 14 ofthe .fork are offset downwardly from the tubular beam and are provided with de pending lugs 15 which are adapted to bear against the inner edge of the tread of a straight rail or against the inner edge of the tread of the outer rail of a curve with the .end portions of the prongs resting on top of the rail. These prongs are of comparatively a considerable distance apart to position the beam at right angles with relation to the rail. The opposite end portion 16 of the beam is square in cross section and an adjustable gage arm 17 is slidably mounted on the squared portion of the beam and is adapted to be fastened in adjusted position by means of the set bolt 18 which is threaded through the tubular portion 19 of the arm 17 and impinges against the upper face of the squared portion of the beam. The adjustable gage arm 17 depending downwardly from the tubular portion 19 is positioned to engage the inner edge of'the tread of the inner rail of a curve and a projection 20 extending outwardly from the outer face of the arm is adapted to rest on top of said rail. This projection is spaced the same distance below the tubular beam as the outer ends of the fork in orderto have the beam assume a level position, horizontally,when gaging straight track sections. The positions of adjustment of the gage arm are limited by the annular stops 21 forming part of the tubular beam. The beamis also provided with a depending guard rall gage arm 22 adjustably connected thereto by a set bolt 23 which is threaded through the tubular portion 24 of the arm and impinges against the beam. Stops 25 limit the positions of adjustment of said arm. This guard gage arm is arranged to space the guard rail a predetermined distance from the main rail and the adjustability of the arm is provided to compensate for the various adjustments of the gage arm 17.

A lever arm 26 ivotally connected at one end to the collar 2 which surrounds the tubular beam is provided with a spirit level28 fastened to the upper surface thereof. When the lever arm is in its lowermost position the level carried thereby will be in parallel alinement with the engaging surfaces of the prongs of the fork and the projection of the adjustable gage arm and when in this position the gage is adapted to space and level rails of a straight track section. The

free end of the lever arm is guided between the upstanding arms 29 of a slotted segmental guide 30 which surrounds the tubular beam and is rigidly fastened thereto. A carriage bolt 31 extending through the slots of the segmental guide and through an opening in the free end of the lever arm is provided with a thumb nut 32 for locking said arm to the segmental guide at difierent angles of adjustment. The segmental guide is provided with degree marks 33 to indicate the angles necessary to properly elevate the outer rail above the inner rail with relation to the radius of the curve.

A handle 34 rigidly connected to the tubular beam and extending over the spirit level is provided for convenience in handling the gage and also to serve as a guard to protect the lever arm and spirit level from being broken.

In using the adjustable gage for straight track sections the lever arm is adjusted to its lowermost position and the gage is placed on top of the rails with the depending fork lugs and the adjustable gage arm engaging the inner edges of the tread of the rails. When so engaged the rails will be spaced a proper distance apart and the spirit level will indicate whether or not the rails are level. If a guard rail is to be used the guard rail gage is adjusted to the position desired and the guard rail is set with its outer tread edge engaging the inner edge of the guard gage.

The adjustability of the gage arm and guard gage on the tubular beam provide for spacing rails and guard rails different distances apart and if desired the annular stops may be so spaced that when the arms are against the outer stops they will be in the proper position to space rails of the widest gage and when against the inner stops they will properly space narrow gage tracks thus providing a very convenient gage. The provision of offset rail engaging members from the tubular beam provides for gaging rails which may be on opposite sides of switches or frogs without interfering with the same as the beam will clear said parts. When it is desired to gage curved track sections the lever arm carrying the spirit level is swung upwardlyv to the proper angle to indicate the height of the outer rail of the curve above the inner rail and the gage is placed on the rails and the rails are raised or lowered until the spirit level indicates they are in the proper position which will be when the level is in horizontal position. The spacing arms or projections will at thesame time indicate the proper distance apart of the rails.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the gage is simple in construction and operation and is easily adjusted to gage rails of different distances apart and also of difierent elevations.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. An adjustable track gage, comprising a gage beam having a squared portion at one end and provided at the other end with a rail engaging fork the prongs of which are ofiset from the beam and have rail engaging projections depending downwardly therefrom, a gage arm adjustably mounted on the squared portion of the beam and depending downwardly therefrom and provided with an outwardly extending rail engaging projection,a guard rail gage arm adjustably connected to the beam and positioned between the foot and the gage arm, a slotted segmental guide carried by the 'beam and having two portions upstanding therefrom, a lever arm pivotally connected to the beam and provided with a level adapted to adjust the angle of the beam with relation to the level, the free end of said lever arm positioned between the two portions of the segmental guide, and a screw extending through the slots of the segmental guide and engaging the free end of the lever arm and provided with a nut to clamp said lever arm in positions of adjustment between the two portions of the guide.

2. An adjustable track gage, comprising a gage beam having a squared portion at one end and provided at the other end with a rail engaging fork the prongs of which are offset from the beam and have rail engaging project-ions depending downwardly therefrom, a gage arm adjustably mounted on the squared portion of the beam and depending downwardly therefrom and provided with an outwardly extending rail engaging projection, a guard rail gage arm adjustably connected to the beam and positioned between the fork and the gage arm, stops provided on the beam for limiting the movements of the gage arm and the guard gage arm, a slotted segmental guide carried-by i neeted to'the beam and provided with alevel adapted to adjust the angle of the beam with relation to the level, the free end of said lever arm positioned between the two portions of the segmental guide, and a screw extending through the slots of the segmental guide and engaging the free end of the lever arm and provided with a nut to clamp said lever arm in positions of adjustment between the two portions of the guide.

EDWARD B. SCHNEIDER. FRANK HERRICK.

Witnesses:

A. LENe'rnNnn, ANNA KNAAK, H. M. BALDWIN,

ETHEL FRENCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

